Overview: adult education in Czech Republic

In Czech Republic the cornerstones of adult education are the 2015 Strategy for Lifelong Learning and the 2019 - 2023 Strategy for Education and Development. Additionally, the country issued a Strategy for Digital Literacy and the Development of the Electronic Skills of Citizens 2015-2020 (launching DigitKatalog). Participation in Adult Learning (25-64) in learning in 2019 was at 8,1% which shows a decline, since in 2014 it was at 9,6%. In 2018 the European average was at 11,1% (LFS).

Until today, a majority of non-formal adult education in Czech Republic remains job oriented. Only a few civil society actors (members) provide non-formal education that is non-vocational and focuses on skills such as communication, citizenship, environmental literacy, digital literacy, and personal development. The Czech Republic aims to realise a greater synergy between continuous vocational education and training and programs that cover more extensive life skills. So far, mostly white-collar workers engage in adult education. Access barriers for low skilled workers, older populations and people from a lower socio-economic background remain high.

Since the beginning of 2020, the National Pedagogical Institute of the Czech Republic is in charge of further education and the administration of the National Qualification Framework (NFQ). Civil society actors anticipate that the cooperation with the EU and the adoption of the NFQ will enhance the recognition of non-formal adult learning. The Czech Republic is clearly committed to strengthening its ambition for lifelong learning, yet, significant regional differences and few civil society actors in the lifelong learning fields are challenging the development .